Angelika After Hours: Dynamic Dude Duos

Life’s better with a buddy along for the ride. Grab a friend (or 2), swing by the cafe for a couple of cold ones, and meet us every weekend this August to relive these all-time buddy-movie favorites, back on the big screen:

THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980) – 8/1 & 8/2Expanding on their Saturday Night Live characters, John Belushi (ANIMAL HOUSE) and Dan Aykroyd (GHOSTBUSTERS) star as Jake and Elwood Blues, two white boys with black soul. Rocking their signature shades and suits, Jake and Elwood are dispatched on a “mission from God” to save their old Catholic orphanage. Along the way, they dodge lawmen of every kind, neo-Nazis, and crazy ex-girlfriends. Written and directed by John Landis, this cult classic’s legion of guest stars includes John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Paul Reubens, and performances by James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles at their funky, late ’70s best.

HOT FUZZ (2007) – 8/8 & 8/9A blood-spattered spoof of American action movies, HOT FUZZ is the second title in Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s cult favorite Blood & Ice Cream Trilogy (SHAUN OF THE DEAD and THE WORLD’S END). Upset that top London cop Nicholas Angel is making the rest of the force look bad, his superiors relocate the overachiever to a small village where the quiet atmosphere completely contradicts the violent high-stakes of the city. But as Sgt. Angel and his foolish new partner sort through a series of horrific “accidents,” they begin to suspect tranquil Sanford has fallen prey to some foul play.

BILL & TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE (1989) – 8/15 & 8/16Two excellent dudes face one harsh history exam in this wacky early 90s classic that launched Keanu Reeves to stardom. When best friends Ted and Bill find out they won’t graduate if they don’t do well on their history presentation, they are at a loss. But with the help of a super-cool messenger in a time traveling phone booth (played by George Carlin), they travel back in time to witness a slew of historical figures – and enlist the expertise of philosopher Socrates, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Noah’s Wife and Joan of Arc to stage the most hysterical high school project ever.

KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005) – 8/22 & 8/23A breezy take on filmmaker Shane Black’s trademark buddy action-comedy oeuvre, KISS KISS BANG BANG is a murder mystery that brings together a private eye (Val Kilmer), a struggling actress (Michelle Monaghan), and a thief masquerading as an actor (Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr.). Admired for its sharp and clever comedy as well as Downey and Kilmer’s screen chemistry and performances, this mix of action, adventure, romance, and comedy was one of the past decade’s most underrated movies.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI (1998) – 8/29 & 8/30This Coen Brothers cult classic follows the Dude – an unemployed slacker with a penchant for bowling, played by Jeff Bridges. After a case of mistaken identity he goes on a quest to get a new rug and gets pulled into a ransom scheme involving the Big Lebowski’s kidnapped trophy wife. The all-star cast includes John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Phillip Seymor Hoffman and John Turturro.